Apparatus for treating petroleum vapor



D. W. HOGE.

APPARATUS FOR TREATLNG PETROLEUM VAPOR.

APPLlcATloN rlLED lullgm, 1911.

' 1,418,375.- V Patented June 6, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET i.

n. W. H0GE. APPARATUS FOR TREATING. 'PETROLEUMVAPOBl Patented June 6, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

DANIEL-W. Hoen or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, 'AssiGNon 'BY MESNE Assiememms,l 'fro' v BASE oiLArrn BEFLNING ConirANm'or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or DELAWARE.

A-PrAaAfrus ForI ArrItiiiA'r'i-Ne PETROLEUM vAPoIi. f

Application 'med nine 1i, 1917. serial No. mcse.

To all lwhom it may oonwn." v Be it known that I, DANmL'.W.*HoGE, a citizen of the United States, "i"esidi1` at Chicago, in the county of yCookai'id ,tate v of Illinois, have inventedy certainvnenvv and useful Improvements Vin` Apparatus for TreatingPetroleumVapor, of which the following 1s a specification.

This invention relates treating, petroleum vapor to increase the yield therefrom of distillate commercially known as gasoline.' I v It is the object of my invention to'provide an apparatus wherein petroleum vapor .may be subjected ina reaction zone of relatively great length and small cross-sectional area to .a uniform high temperature at a low pressure whereby the higher boiling point compounds in the (vapor: are broken down into compounds having relatively low boiling points, so that the condensate corresponds closely in composition to natural gasoline. v

A further 4object of my invention 1s the provision of an apparatus which` willasuccessfully withstand the high heat essential to the success of the method and from which the portion constituting' the reaction zone may be readily withdrawn for cleaning, or repairs. l I

Further objects and advantages of my in- 4-vention will be' apparent as it is better understood by reference' to the following specification when read in connection with S5 the accompanying drawing, illustrating the preferred' embodiment thereof, 1n which- Fig. lis a vertical longitudinal section through the apparatus; Fig. 2 is a transverse e0 apparatus; and l Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of the receptacle for the bath of molten 1I 1f':ta l.

Referring' to the drawing, 5 indicates a furnace structure of brickwork held together rby buck-stays 6 and tie-rods 7 The cham-v ber Within the furnace is divided mediallyv by=a supporting wall "8, on either side of .1 which oil'burners 9 or other suitable heating means are disposed. Above the -burners e0 9 .a baille 10 extends entirely across'the cham ber, being supported onthe side walls and on thesupporting wall 8, The-baille 10 is provided with o enings 11 at the end thereof opposite thel urners 9 and on either side e5 of its medial line. Above and spaced from section through the j the baiile 10 oppositely disposed-baffles 12 are supported on the side walls and extend nearly across the furnace chamber. Openv ings are, however, provided, which openings being at the end of the chamber opposite the openings 11 provide a zigzag passage for the of furnace gases may be provided in any desirable location in the wall of the furnace.

A receptacle 13 is mounted on the bale 1() above the supporting wall 8 and isv adaptedto contain a quantity of lead or other suitable metal'which is maintained in` a molten condition and at a high temperature by means of the heat generated bythe burners 9. The receptacle 13 comprises side and end walls'and a bottom, and is cony structed of sheetsteel, the edges'of the sheets being welded at the corners of therecep- I'products of combustion 'upwardly through l A v the chamber; anda iue 31 for the escape to an'apparatus for tacle. The receptacle is relatively narrow as compared with its depth andlength and' l vis supported within the furnace chamber by means of angle irons 14 riveted to the upper edges of the sides and ends of the re.

ceptacle and resting on the top of the furnace structure. y Preferably a flaring mouth is provided at the top of the receptacle by riveting plates 15 thereto and to each other as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

Within the receptacle 13 l provide av tortuous passage through which the vapor isV prassed out of contact with the molten metal. Ahis is best accomplished by providing headers 16 and 17, the former having legs 18 adapted to rest on the bottom of the receptacle 13. `The headers are each provided with a pluralityof chambers 19 separated by division walls 20.` An inlet and an outlet opening to each chamber .is provided in the walls ofthe headers and pipes 21 connect -the opposite'openings. Opposite the ends of each ofthe pipes 21 the headers 16 `and 17 are provided` with threaded plugs 22 and 23 which, when removed, permit the insertion of a suitablejinstrument through the device to clear'out accumulations of solid matter suchforexample'as carbon whichv is invariably depositedduring the operation of the apparatus. Before the plugs 22 and 23 are removed the headers 16 and 17 with' the pipes 21 are withdrawn from the recep# tacle 13. -The iared mouth ieceV serves to drain lany molten :metal adhering to the headers and pipes back into 'the receptacle.

' between-750 and 1250o F.

Pipes 24 and 25 are connected, respectively, to the header 17 at the opposite ends thereof, the former serving to conduct the vapor from any suitable still into the apparatus and the latter serving to deliver the product to a suitable condenser.

In employing my apparatus the crude oil is irst distilled 'according to the usual method to 4remove the lighter fractions including the' gasoline, or residues such as fuel or gas oils may be'used. rl`he residues are heated in a still to a temperate suficent to volatilize .the oil and the vapor is conducted through the pipe 24 to the apparatus described and allowed to pass through the reaction zone within the pipes 21 at a pressure preferably not exceeding sixteen ounces. The temperature of the lead bath surrounding the pipes is preferably maintained at between 900 and 1100o F., but it may vary The vapor, When subjected. to this temperature and under conditions which permit the major portion of the vapor to contact with the Walls of the pipes 21, is broken up or cracked to form compounds analogous to those present in natural gasoline and when the vapors are condensed they yield a liquid in every respect similar to gasoline obtained from the lighter fractions of crude oil. The gasoline recovered is refined in the usual manner and is then ready for the market.

My apparatus is so constructed that the Weight of the molten lead is easily supported without danger of buckling the plates. By Welding the edges of the plates I insure tight -joints through which the lead can not posvsibly escape. By providing for the removal of the headers and connecting pipes I am enabled to substitute another set of pipes While those previously in use are being cleaned, thus insuring continuous operation of the apparatus. Accumulations of carbon are readily removed from vthe pipes by removing the plugs 22 and 23 and inserting a suitable cleaning tool.

Various changes may be made in the details of the apparatus as above described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely the preferred embodiment tlereof.

l claim:

1. An apparatus for treating petroleum vapor to obtaingasoline comprising a receptacle'containing a bath of molten metal, bodily removable means in said receptacle consisting of a plurality of independent straight sectionsvconnected in pairs alternately at their ends to form a continuous conduit for the vapor, and means for heating said bath.

2. An apparatus for treating petroleum including a pair of oppositely disposed headers, each having a plurality of independent chambers, and a plurality of straight pipes connecting the chambersl of the respective headers to form a continuous conduit for the vapor, and means for heating said bath.

4. An apparatus for treating petroleum vapor comprising a receptacle for a bath of molten metal, vbodily removable means in said receptacle including a pair of oppositely disposed chambered headers and a plurality of straight pipes connecting the chambers of the respective headers, removable plugs in said headers permitting access to'the interior of said pipes, and means for heating said bath. j

5. An apparatus for treating' petroleum vapor to obtain gasoline, comprising a conlduit for the vapor under treatment, said conduit having relatively great length with respect to its cross-sectional area and provided With means to frequently and abruptly change the direction of the How of vapor through said conduit, and means for heating the Walls of the conduit to a temperature sufficiently high to crack the vapors into gasoline comprising a receptacle closed at its bottom, sides and ends and containing a bath of molten metal submerging said conduit.

6. An apparatus for treating petroleum vapor to obtain gasoline, comprising a vertically disposed conduit for the vapor under treatment, said conduit having relatively great length with respect to its cross-sectional area and provided with a plurality of abrupt return bends constituting means to -frequently andA abruptly change the direcvertical sections connected by abrupt re- 'closed at its bottom,

and means for maintaining the conduit a temperature sufliciently high to crack the vapors into gasoline comprising a receptacle sides and ends andcontaining a bath of molten met'al submerging said conduit.

8. An apparatus 4for treating petroleum vapor comprising a vertically disposed receptacle for a bath lof vmolten metal, the width of said receptacle being slight as compared With its length and depth, means in i5 said receptacle forming a continuous conduit for the vapor including a pair of oppositely disposed `chambered headers located one above the other and. a plurality of vertically -arranged straight pipes connecting the chambers of the respective headers, and means for heating said bath.

9. An apparatus 'for treating petroleum vapor to obtain gasoline comprising a vertically disposed receptacle containing abath of molten metal, the Width of said receptacle being slight as compared with its length and depth, means in said receptacle including a pair of oppositely disposed chambered headers, the bottom vof said receptacle and the other header being located near the top of the receptacle, and a plurality of straight verti-A cally disposed pipes connecting the chambers of the respective headers to form a continuous conduit for the vapor, and means .for heating` said bat 10. An apparatus for treating` petroleum vapor comprising a vertically disposed receptacle for a bath of molten metal, the Width of Said receptacle being slight as compared with its length and depth, means in said receptacle forming a continuous conduit for the vapor including a pair of oppositely disposed chambered headers, one of said headers being supported on the bottom of said receptacle, a plurality of straight vertically disposed pipes connecting the chambers of the respective headers, plugs in said headers adapted upon removal to give access to the interior of said pipes, and means for heating said` bath.

11. An apparatus for treating petroleum vapor to obtain gasoline comprisinga furnace, means for supplying heated combustion products thereto, a receptacle containing molten metal Within said furnace, balile walls in said furnace to cause the products of combustion to travel back and forth in -contact with said receptacle, and removable means in said receptacle forming a continuous conduit for the vapor of relatively small cross-sectional area and great length, said conduit having a plurality of abrupt return bends.

12. An apparatus for treating petroleum cluding one of said headers being supported on vapor to obtain gasoline bomprisinga furnace, means' for supplying heated combus-4 tion products e ing molten metal Within-.said furnace, baille walls in said furnace to cause the products of combustion to travel vback and forth in contact with said receptacle, and removable s means in said receptacle forming a continu- I thereto, a receptacle' contain- ..1 l

ous conduit for the vapor of relatively smallA cross-sectionalarea and great length, in-

a pair of ppositely disposed chambered headers and a plurality of straight pipes connecting the chambers of the respective headers. A y

13. An apparatus for treating petroleum vapor to obtain gasoline comprising a fur-- nace, means for supplying heated combustion products thereto, a receptacle containing molten metal Within said furnace, baille walls in said furnace to cause the products of combustion to travel back and forth in contact with saidQreceptacle, and removable means in said receptacle forming a continuous conduit for the vapor of relatively small cross-sectional area and great length, including a pair of oppositely disposed chambered headers, a plurality of straight pipes connecting the chambers of the respective headers, and removable plugs in said headers to permit access pipes.

vapors to obtain gasoline comprising a nace having therein a zigzag passage, means for supplying heated combustion products to said passage, a receptacle containingto the interior of said;

14. An apparatus for' treating petroleum molten metal vertically arranged in said passage in the path of said combustion products, whereby the products of combustion are caused to travel back and forth in contact with said receptacle, and means inf:

said receptacle forming ai continuous conduit for said vapor, said means being loosely supported and readily removable from said receptacle and provided Withl a plurality of' c abrupt return bends.

15. Anapparatus for treatingpetroleum vapor to obtain gasoline` comprising a4 re-- ceptacle closed at its bottom, ends and 'sides' and containing a bath ofinolten metal, and

means submerged in said bath and forming a continuous conduit for th'e'"y vapor and consisting of a plurality of substantially parallel straight sections and chambers connecting adjacent ends of successive sections.

16. An'apparatus for treating petroleum vapor to obtain gasoline comprising a receptacle contaimg a bath of molten metal,

`and means submergedin said bath form- .ing acontinuous conduit-.for the vapor andconsisting of a plurality ofparallel straight vertical sections and .a plurality of horizontal chambers disposed transversely to the direction of said sections and connecting the sectionsin pairs alternatelyattheir ends.

17. An apparatus for treating petroleum .vapor .to obtain gasoline comprising a resisting of a plurality of parallel straight sections in upright position, a series of independentJ chambers arranged lin alinement above the sections, and a series of inde-I ends.

pendent chambers arranged in alinement be- 10- low the sections, said chambers connecting the sections in pairs alternately at their DANIEL W. HOGE.

WVitnesses: n

M. A. KIDDIE, WM. 0. BEI/r. 

